The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-14
BRITISH VESSELS SEIZED
IN THE BEHRING SEA DISCLOsEs
THE FACT
That Great Britain Has Never Made
Demand for the Vessels-The
Correspondence.
MIR. HYArT,OF NORwALK, CONN,
APPOINTED TREASURER
TO Succeed c. N. Jordan, Resigned =
Report Of the Bureau Of Sta.
tistics-NOtes.

WASHINGTON, Nay 13.-1nquiry at
the Department of State regarding the
British We seels seizsd in BEHRING'S sea,
disclosed the fact that no den ad has
ever been made by the British Gov
eminent for the vessels, nor has any
claims for damages caused by the
seizures been made upon the govern
ment of tina United States. The cor
respondence between the two G 1vern-
ments on the subject was very limited.
1t opened with letter from the En-
glish Government reciting the fact of
the seizures, and asking information
relative to the details. This was re-
ceived in September last, and SsCre-
tsry Bsysrd immediately began an
examination of thC latter. 1t became
necessary to secure the rec ri of the
proceedings before the U lifted States
Court in Alaska, which had resulted
in the condemnation of the sealers,
and it wa, not until the following
January that this was received at ths
department. A careful examination
was then made Of the law and of the
treaty of cession by which the
United States became possessed
Of Alaska, which resulted in
the order of the releste of the
seized vessels. The fact that the seal
ers had been released was commune
Gated to the British Government and
that was about all there vas OF the cor
respondence on the subject. There
had been occasion for this government
to make an official declaration OF the
extent of its jurisdiction over the
waters of Behring's sea. The matter
deserved careful examination, how
ever, and the details OF the treaty and
prior correspondence on the general
subject of marine jurisdiction was
studied. 1t was found thai the bound
airy line between the Russian AMI the
United States possessions a, defned by
the treaty, divided the waters OF Behr-
ings sea into two parts, which would
tend to negative the idea that it was
a "closed sea-" as the term is common
ly understood. This government had
also resisted vigorously the claim of
Russia to jurisdiction over the Sea OF
0chotsk, which at the time was almsst
surrounded by Russian possessions,
and refueed to acknowledge Ras- /
sis's claim to jurisdiction over
Behring's sea. before the cession OF
Alaska. In 1870, however, Congress
passed the laws for the protection
OF the fisheries OF Behring's sea, and
by it's decision sustaining the seizures,
the Alaskan court appears to have
affirmed the jurisdiction thus asserted.
Meanwhile, before assuming final
stand on the question of Jurisdiction,
the Department OF State Is awaiting
with interest the result OF the suit for
$22, 500, brought in N issachusetts
against Captain Abney, # the Oorwin,
by the Wners Of the American schoon-
or Sierra, which was also seizsd lsst
summer in Alaskan waters, distant
fifty miles from the nearest land.
THE NEWLY APPOINTED TREASURER.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
formally notified Mr.. Hyatt, who Is
now al his home In Norwalk, Conn,
Of his appointment as Treasurer OF the
United States, and 1t is supposed that
the new sppointee will file his bond
and take the oath OF office early next
week. The transfer OF the flee from
the outgoing to the incoming Treas.
urer will involve q count OF all the
cash and securities in the treasury
and an examination Of the books aud
records and accounts Of the office. 1t
is estimated that this will consume at
lanai two montha' TINA
THE CHIP or THE BUREAU
Of Statistics reports the total values OF
the exports from the United States Of
the under mentioned articles as fol-
lows:
Beef and pork products: Six months
ended April 80, 1887, SAL ,342, 1856; 1886,
S37, S4I,791.
Dairy products: Twelve months
ended April 80, 1887, S9,051, 2S4; 1885,
SO, $50, 1855.
Cattle: Ten months ended April
30, 1887, $z,2l7 1907; 1885, So, 949 9S6
Hog: Ten months ended April 30,
1887, $4ls,S77; 1885, S499, 400.
THE PRESIDENT THANKED.
Gen. Cist, Secretary of the Society
OF the Army Of the Cumberland, and
Gen. Museey, Secretary OF the 10.
cal Committee OF Arrangements,
waited on the President today and
banked him, both personally and in
behalf Of the society, for the interest
he had manifested in the recent re.
union and the warm words OF sympa
thy expressed by him in his address